is now an agricultural village before the cession of the Island of Hong Kong to the British Government and an important native market-town, 7 to 9 miles East of the City of Victoria.
In the year 1861, the Government laid out both sides of the Main Street of Shaukiwan East and a portion of Shaukiwan West in lots, which were sold by auction on lease for 999 years, principally to the squatters at small premiums and a Crown Rent at the rate of £20 (or $96) an acre per annum.
Some of the boundaries of these lots, however, in some cases went through some of the old buildings which are still standing. The claims to Crown Leases are in respect of such portions of the buildings as are situate outside the boundaries of the leased lots.
In the case of Claim No. 5, the building stands partly on Government land and partly on Shaukiwan Lot W. 147, and the whole building has been held under Squatters' Licence for many years by the claimant, who is a different person from the owner of the Lot. The Government has therefore been receiving both Crown Rent from the Lessee and Squatters' License Fee from the occupier.
The Board recommends in this case that the claimant should be granted a 21-year lease for the ground outside the Lot at the reduced rent of $1 per annum, and that the claimant and Lessee settle between themselves for the portion of the ground occupied by the building within the Lot boundaries.